Toy building-block.



S. W. PINCE.

l TOY BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLIOATIDN FILED 1020.8; 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

www

Y Zgsses f S. W. FINCH.

TOY BUILDING BLOCK. AiPLIoATIoN FILED Dnc. 190s.

l lPatented May 3, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. W. PINCE.

TOY BUILDING BLOGK.

, AHfLmATIoN FILED DB0. 8,11909.

Patented May 3, 1.910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FaQ-19 bKKs WM 75 -BSU 7, whereby the elast'lamuy be attached to one i AtiNAi-rnD srntrns PATENT opinen.

STANLEY W. FINCH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

roY BUrnnINenoom 956,632, Bpeoication of'Lettei-s Patent. Patented May 3, v1910,

l Application Med December 8,1909, Serial No. 532,122.

passing about the To all whom 'it may concern: faeelof the block Without Be it known that I, STANLEY W.l Fmcn Sarno 11.1 the external grooves ,for channels a citizen of the United States, residing" a Wh1 0l1 are common t0 both'ths axliilie pr- Washington, inj l the District of Columbia, dlpg f0lII 1S; F lgs. 6 and p @tive md '60 have invented certain new andv useful Im-`v sectional v lew's, respectivelo a further movementsin Toy Buildings B1OckS, O f Hform, 1n which the'external groovesare atb#` which 'the following is a specification sent; Fig. a 1plan view of astill further My present invention pertains' to an in1-. form, wherein t ehooks or pins are' omitted, proved toy or, more specifically, toi an irnand anchoring s tudsor posts are formed as proved toy.- building-block, combined 'with anlntegral portlon' of the block about which means for yieldingly holding it number of the bapd may be looped 40r passed; 'Fig. 9 said blockstogether in any desired formaw a ,Sectional eleYat10n 0f. an assemblage of tion 01- assemblagev blocks, theblocks being of a slightly dif- .Blocks constructedin aecordancejvith my -ferent construction from ,hOSB above Te invention mayjbe of various forms, soflong ferred to; Fig. 10 a top plan view of the as they are provided with means permittin ftSSmblage ShOWn 1n 'F 1g. 9; Fi 1j1, 12 the attachment thereto of an"'elastic ban and 13,- perspective views of the b ocks emsuch, for instance, yas en 0rdina1'y i1fubber p'loyed 1n bullding up thestructure of'Figs. band, theband holding the-blockS-Jn as-. 9 and 1 0; Fig-.14 e ers' ctive view of two 75 selnblagefandwlikevvise permitting the in- Smlylmdrical blQC S; ig. 15 a sectional troduetionv and retention of one orfmore VleW f-Such -blOCkS brought together and additional blocks in the series. .Thus', vvhere held lnfsuch position by an elastic band; two blocks are' held togetherabyfa'bnnd, the Fig. 16 a perspective view' of a trian lar construction is such that one or moreblo'ckfs block; Fig, 17 a similar view of. a. m ified 80 may be. placed between the two, ongthe sides form v(if-block, designed more'- articularly thereof, Aor at one or both ends 'o ffthe .series OIllSB 'ill the bllldlllg 11p 0f pgure WOIk; already built up. The preferredl form 0f Fig.'18 an Outline iig-ure of a duck, where-f the block land one which-:.has* the widest "in the block Shown n `Fi 17 is em loyed; range 'of use is provided witli. means where- Fig. 19 a vertical seetiona view ofv Igig. 18;' 85 by the vband may be p'as'sgedpertly around.- Figs. 2O and 21, perspective'views of blocks the same, to secure .attachment-or lsecured of cone and pyramidal sh'al s, respectively; to one or another of a series of hooksfo'r the Fig. 22 a sectionalview opge, pointed block like, one of such hooks bein `,"carried by the' rovided in its base with attaehin 'meansg block adjacent to each .sicfgf-aefe'therf, 'igsl 23 and 2 4 sectional vand ende evations,- 90 but .belowthe plane of 'such-'fone' ,'.Such respectively, showingmee sfor attaching-the block will also be provided v'vfit'zh three( xpenelastic band; Fig. 25 a sedtionit'l View 0f WO ings extending'therethrough-E from'f'sji'de td` blocks illustre-tin a stillrfurther'meansof side, vthe nlien-ings prefersbl lcoinciding -in securing the ban in positionFig; 261s. side the center, of the block. Sucffopenin pelelevation of two sectorshaped-bloeks placed 95 mit the thre adi n of the bend (2jr ands') ;f end to end; and Fig. 27 'a perspective-view s through theqbloc and-the .rotation @fone Qf'twosemis hentai blocks. Y 4block upon another.' `Referrin to the constructionzlil'lusi The .inventionin some ef its formsis i11us trated in ige. 1 to 8, 1` denotes-the Ibody trat-ed 'in' thel annexed drawings, wherein: ofthe block, cubical in its 'general form-'and 10o .Fl'gure'l 'isa 'pers eetiveyievv of the pre provided -upon each falce with cross slots or fe-rred '.fQrm 0f the Lblock; Fig. `.2 'a'jtrans grooves 2 and 3. l vThe blockis also provided .'i- .versev sectional view thereof; Fi' a. transwith -fdieinetrally `lfdispose'd .o enin verse'se'etional view ofaslel'ieso such blocks or'hles 4,*5 and 6, which'extend t rou assembledan'd heldin 'lace :by af'sin le the block', each preferblyfterminatin'gl 1li 1.05 elastiche'v rubber b an'd'; 4 it perspective line with an.' enlarged 'opening or' recess 7 viewvof atool or hookfshaped member-Which formed at the point of'crossing -of theslots la., may be employed to thre`ad' or draw the 2 and 3, andfthejend of the ,adjacentband through the holes i n the`.block; Fi 5 opening; `-"Ex'ten'ding -iitofeach 0f theifflelj.; asectlonal. View of. a series" of blocks Withoesses '.or openings -7 land over theendso'ff .110,

out the central openings' end-`with means hook-.shape one pair of into the body of the block in a diagonal drection'so as not to project into anyof Ythe holes or openings 4, 5 and 6. As will be readily appreciated, the blocks mai be se. cured to each other by a rubber and or bands, three of such blocks being shown in contact with each other in Fig. 3 and held lower faces thereof. Should it be desired.

to ,attach a block to any one of the members of a series, a` rubber` band could be passed entirely ,about the series, or through any one of the openings.; or attached-to one of 4 lthe hook-sha ped pins 8 and passed around the block to be attached or through the holes orl openings therein. Thus a ser-ies of blocks may have attached thereto one or more blocks without in any manner disturbing e the first-assembled series..l By having the band passed through a centrally-disposed opening, .one .block may be rotated with reference l this Vis'desirable;'as, `for instance, where the blocks are `emlloyed to build up a structure Vwhich w simulate an animal, bird, or the like.

4 .Afhook 10,V Fig. 4, lmay be employed' t'o thread the bands'throu h the openings, the

. .hook beingform'ed of ight wire. In `fact,

an ordinary wire hairpin mayr` be used to draw the band through the block or blocks,

' as the case may be.'

intersecting openin a'hook 12 which :as ure, enables thebl In Fig.4 5 three'blocks are il'lus'trated.the blocks in this instance being 'without the is, however, provi recess -or depression 11 in which is secured illustrated in'the figocks to be Vreadily secured to each other without the necessit ofpas'sing the band 'entirely around the. lock and,

,slots in its outer face,

erhaps, undulyv distendin l.the 'band incase 1t should happen to be a s ort one.

1nv Figs. 6 and 7 va block is illustrated which .isformed withouti the intersectin but is provided. wi intersecting holes,l as

16. Pins-17 ai'ejdriven intolthe block the outer end of each sin stopng shortof the outer face of the jl `appresi ated that dief'blfmdV or bands maybe looped over the pins assed through thev openings and extende another block for eing embraced by the bandto the others, and in certain cases'.

orfholes. Each block edV with a countersulik` coming ook. twill be readily" ceases In Fig. 8 the block is shown as provided with intersectin cross-slots or grooves 18 and 19 upon eac face thereof, the block being likewise provided with transverse internally-disposed intersecting openings or holes, as in thev structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The cross-slots in this instance are t interru ted or cut into by a circular slot 2() which orms a series o f studs or posts 21, about which a band maybe looped or hooked and then passed through one of the ho'les or openings.

In Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive there are shown a structure and a'series of blocks employed in building up 'such structure. The block designated 'as 22 in Fig. 13 isf of vcubicaly .form and of the same general shape as thatv shown in Flgls. 1 to 3, except that it is notI provided. wit hook-shaped pins' and the enarged opening 'o'r recess for receiving the same; in other words, it has theintersect ing holes or 0 enings passing through the block from eac side thereof, andthe intersecting slotso'r-recesses formed in'each side face. The corner blocks of the arch-shaped form' illustrated in Figs. 9 and 1,0 are designated as '23, and one of such blocks is shown in detail inl Fig. 11. It is substantiallyvthe same in its mechanical construction as the block shown' 'n Fig. 13, but is rounded or curved upon one side. The' center of the arch illustrated in -Fig`. 9 is formed of two .blocks24, one of which is shown in detail .1nF1g. 12, said blocks being triangular in crosssection. The block is rovided upon its inclined facewith cross-sots 25 and 26.

An -opening2'i' is formed in the block, said o enin -standingat right an les toene ofy t e rig t-angled faces of the b ock'and consequently parallel vwith the other of such faces. Each- 'of said faces is likewise pro- 'vided 'with slots 28 and 29,reslpe'ctively,

the 'slot which slots stand in alinement Vwit 26. lThe triangular faces are, provided .with

lshort slots 30 and31, which stand at right an les to each other as clearly illustrated in. 4 ig.A 1e. The blogia 22 and the bleek 2e, as `shown at the leftin Fi 9, are secured together by a band 32, anl asimilar band 32* is employed to secure thecorresp'ondin blocks upon the lcgposite side; Bortion of the a locks'24 said blocks being secured 4to each other and 'to the sector-sha' blocks 23 byl a rubberban 33. The fact 4 4 that the. bands maybeA distended, permits 13, 14 and 15, the,` y j. blockfhaving likewise countersunk recessesA their 4ready application 4to any block re-v viously ositioned and insures said b ock of `at'tawl'iment of the band -be employed', as' in Qand 1Q.

or a e having faces, llockst The centra is formed of triangular ack to place afterthe band has' .been passed around it,in` 4case' this method e form shown'in. Fig. 14'

d or rounded n Where it is designed to build up a column, l rounded or semicircular sepas will be employed. Said blocks are semicylindrical 1n outline, the vertical fiat face of -cach block being provided with intel*- seeting cross grooves 34 and 35, and the tlat end faces witha single roove 36, which groove 36 coincides with t e groove 35 and with a. similar groove'37 formed in the outer yor rounded face of the block. A groove 38 extends around the block, standing in alinementwith the cross-groove 34 and with an opening'BQ which passes horizontally through the' block. Two such blocks are shown in section in Fig. 15, being held together by a band 40 which is seated inthe grooves 36 and the vertically-disposed grooves 37.

In Fig. 16 a triangular block is illustrated,

such -blockhbeino' of a form-slightly different a The bleek is' from that shown in Fi 12. equilateral vand the en faces thereof are providedwithfslots 41,' 42 and 43.. A slot or' groove 44 is formed about the block and a cross slot is provided in each side face of said block, thel cross-slots standing in alinement with openings 4G which extend through the block in-'a direction parallel to thejre- This construction permits s ctive sides. t e blocks to be readily positioned andthe attaching band secured thereto withoutdifficulty. l

'In Fig. 17 thereis shown a block 47,`eubi cal in form' and provided with a continuous slot or channel 48 extending transversely -ar'ound four of the outer faces of the block,

said slotintersecting openings t9/.passing .through 'the block and terminating at the base ,of the slot.. This formoi' block is especially adapted -or the building-up of figures of animals-and the. like, in 'which it is desirable to have the outer faces'liat or -plane surfaces, so that they may be covered with paper or the like, simulating a particu.

lar animal orbird. Bv having thevarious vthe--rc'umimler thereof, such blocks compris` ing 4blocks 50-V (one corner of 'which is vcut away s of as to form .a curved face t wo similarlyv formed blocks 51:, and a triangular block 52, which together form the tail of the bird. The headj'is produced .by the-use of v:t4-specially ormedblock'tl, while for the neck an ,elongatcdblock 54 is employed. 'lhenpp'er end off said block 54 is conc.i ve.

to receive the'block`53, whilethe lower endof block 5ft lies in a concavi'ty formed'i'n an adjacent. tri-angular block 55. A'swill be seen upon'referenee to Fig. 19', rubber bands maybe passedfaround the various .blocksto 'hold them intheirassembled position, and

ing .provi vious -gures One of the slots, however, as 6'5, extends downwardly into the block to aV ortion of thejduck 'or other the neck and head maybe shifted from one sition toanother with reference to the yand to each other, while the bands maintain them in their closettting relation. It is conceivable, .of course, that a block .with an opening therethrough muy be used for the head and neck, and a securing band passed through such hole or opening, whereythe neck may be turned axially and the head likewise brought into any desired position.- f

I n 20 a block 56.0f conical form is discloset' having a slot 57 extendingy entirely-around the same, adjacent to thebase, and u series of vertically-disposed slots 5S which extend from the base to the slot 57.- In Fig. 21 ablock 59 of pyramidal form is illustrated, such block havlng a slot 60 ex-Y tending around the same near the base, and a. series of slots 61 extendin from the base to the slot 60. .The slots in t e blocks shown in Figs. 20 and 21 permit the securing-of such blocks uponthe top of columns, -mina' rets or the like. f; y

In Fig. 22 a cone-shaped'block 62 is shown. Said'block, instead of being provided with slots, as in the other figures just referred to, has formed in its base a recess 63 in which is housed'a hook G4, such hook facilitating the connection of a. band thereto.` i'n order that thejparts may be secured in place.

Blocks' of slightly modified form are illustrated inFgs'. 23 and 24. In Fig. 23 two blocks'of substantially* cubidal outline are shown as laced side to side,the blocks be.- dsed with external slots, as 'in prepoint slightly beyond the axis thereof.A This. permits the passage of a rubber band inwardly .through the'slot to a. point in line' with the. center ofthe block., and said band muy be secured inl-position by passing pins 67'A therethrough and ermittingl such .pms

to come to rest in the s ots in theends of the blocks. '.These pins may be of-sr'iec'lal. form, .-orpiecesof tooth-.pick `or the like maybe les.'

employed'. Figs. 23 and 24' illustrate merely an additional manner in which the elastic bands may be .secured in place.

A still further form is shotvn in Fig. 25, wherein two blocks are each ro'vided witha deep slot or recess 68 Whic'i permits the positioning ofthe band69 therein, m line .with the axes of the blocks, the band in Vthis instance `'being heldin place 'byhooks- 70, carried. by buttons 71, which find their seats in similarly .forme recesses orsocketspro- -videdin the ends of the blocks'.

In Fig. 26 two' block-s, 72,- are illustrated, said blocks being circula-r impress-section and of-sectorshape in outline.' 'The `two blocks" are similar Iin form,- and' each .is "rovided with ai slot 73' which. passes .en-

l ical blocks 75, each block being tudinally-dis'posed slot 74 which likewise ex, tends entirely 'around the block, intersecting the slot 73 at substantially right angles.

This block permits the formation of a sinnous body which, as will be readily appreciated, is advantageous in making up outlines of animals or the like.

In Fig. 27 are illustratedtwo semispherrovided with two continuous slots 76 an 77, the

slots intersecting each other upon the curved 2 andB, the pins 1 deemed'unnecessary. r

face and also upon the flat face. .Thesetwo blocks may be secured together by assing a band about the same, or one of t e blocks maygfbe used in building up any special fi ure. f

Under all the forms it--is to be noted that each block vis provided with `means `for secur- -ing .itI to anotherblock or to a -series'of blocks by an elastic bandor a plurality -of bands', asma be necessary.

The hook-s aped pins 8 shown in Figs. 1, in Figs. 6 and 7, and the studs or .posts 21 in Fig. 8, 'form what may be termed anchoring or attaching members,to which the rubber bands may be secured, said members being located ,in each instance adjacent to the opening' passing throughthe block. c c While inmost ofthe fi uresI I have illustrated an ordinary elastic 'and asthe means 'for securing the parts together, itis not absolutelessentia that s uch band be ein# ployed, t ough in practice itis thought that itr willfbe exclusively used. In Fig. 23, for

instance, a solid band 78 is shown,having openings in each end ,through which'the pins derstood that such arrangement'or disposition is not essential, as the holes o r open- 'ings may be placed at various angles: So, too, it 1s not essential that such holes or should intersect.' i

Having 'thus' described my invention, what I claim is:

' 1. In combination, a plurality of toy" building-blocks; an elastic band for holding said blocks tol ether; and means Ifor securing the bandt ereto. l

2. In combination, a plurality of toy building-blocks; an elastic band for holding said blocks together; and means carried byV tlie blocks for securing 'the band thereto.

3;'In combination, a plurality Vof toy building-blocks; means 'carried by each block adjacent to the outer faces thereof for' admitting of the attachment ofan elastic to vthe center of `such faces.

bandthereto; and an elastic band engaging such means and thereby'securing the blocks in their desired position.

4. In combination, 'a plurality building-blocks; an'elastic band for holding said blocks together; and means for holdin and securin the band in place in axia alinemen't with at least oneof said blocks.

5. I n combination, a plurality of toy building-blocks; an elastic band for holding said blocks together; and means located'adjacent to the outer face of each of said blocks for attachment of the elastic band thereto, said means being locatedadjacent 6. As a new article of manufacture, a toy ,building-block provided with a plurality of openings extending ltherethrough; and

means located adjacent to the terminal of at least one of the openings for the attachment .of an elastic band.-

7. As anew article of manufacture, a toy buildingblock provided with a plurality of openings extending therethrough; and a' sponding grooves Vof the various faces merging'into each other and thereby forming'a series ofv practically contii'iuous grooves; a plurality of intersecting openings extending through the'block from side to side, tlie openings terminating in' the grooves; and

of itoy a hook-shaped member overlying each end of 'each opening.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a toy building-block provided upon each face with two `intersecting grooves, the corresponding grooves of the various faces merging into l each other and thereby forming a series of continuous grooves, the block being likewise provided "with a socket at each point of intersection of the grooves; a` plurality of intersecting openings extending through the block, said openings terminating in the sockets; andy a hook-shaped member overlying -eachend of 'each' opening. 11. As a new article of manufacture, a toy Vbuilding-block4 having a ,socket or. recess formed in itsface and a book-shaped meinber-lying within said socket or 'recess'.y Y

extendin therethrough, and an an c orin lmember coated adjacent to one endfogsai opening 1'2`5 12, As a new article of manufacture, a toy 1 building-blockprovided with an o ening 13. As a new article of manufacture, a toy buildingblock, rovided with an o ening extending theret rough, and an anc oring member located adjacent to the opening at one end thereof, sald anchoring member lying below the plane of the outer face of the block.

14. As a new article of manufacture, a toy `building -block provided with al groove or lchannel in its outer face; an opening extending through the block; and an anchorin'g device located adjacent to said opening.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a toy building-block provided with a groove eX- vtending around or about the same, the outer faces of the block being otherwise uniform A and free of projections, and with an opening,

building-block provided with a series ofin tersecting grooves extending aroundI or about the samefth'e outer faces being otherwise uniform or free of projections, and a plurlflity of openings extending through the 18. As a new article of manufacture, a t'oy building-block having an opening therein, and means adjacent to such opening for fastening a band to the block.

19. Asa new article of manufacture, a toy building-block having a .hook-shaped member secured thereto, and lying wholly below the outer surface of the block. v

20. As a new article of manufacture, a toy building-block having means for hookin a band thereto, said means lying wholly be ow the main outer face or surface of the block.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

